National Trust for Historic Preservation Launches Modernism + Recent Past Initiative

Initiative Will Partner with National and Local Organizations to Save Significant 20th Century Resources

The National Trust for Historic Preservation (www.PreservationNation.org) is a non-profit membership organization bringing people together to protect, enhance and enjoy the places that matter to them. By saving the places where great moments from history – and the important moments of everyday life – took place, the National Trust for Historic Preservation helps revitalize neighborhoods and communities, spark economic development and promote environmental sustainability. With headquarters in Washington, DC, nine regional and field offices, 29 historic sites, and partner organizations in all 50 states, the National Trust for Historic Preservation provides leadership, education, advocacy and resources to a national network of people, organizations and local communities committed to saving places, connecting us to our history and collectively shaping the future of America’s stories.

Washington, DC (April 15, 2009) – The National Trust for Historic Preservation today announced the launch of its Modernism + Recent Past Initiative with the hiring of Christine Madrid French as the director of the program.  The Modernism + Recent Past Initiative, housed in the Western Office in San Francisco under the guidance of regional director Dr. Anthea Hartig, focuses on significant buildings, structures, and landscapes of the modern movement,  as well as places of social, economic, and cultural importance that were built within the last fifty years. Primary funding for the Initiative was generously provided by the Henry Luce Foundation.

With this initiative, the National Trust for Historic Preservation plans to elevate public appreciation for both modern and recent past resources and demonstrate the significance of these buildings in the history of American architecture and culture.  ”The National Trust is fully committed to preserving modern heritage,” said Richard Moe, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, “and this initiative will foster the partnerships necessary to build awareness and support for modernist resources.” Development pressures, the vagaries of the economy, and aging infrastructure put thousands of homes, office buildings, schools, libraries, and airports in jeopardy. Although the historic significance of these places may not be commonly recognized, many clearly contribute to community life and have enduring worth. And while all of these resources may not merit full protection, none should be destroyed without careful review.

“Under this program, we hope to broaden the national conversation on historic preservation of twentieth-century resources and articulate to a wider audience practical approaches to saving modernist and recent past buildings,” said French.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation brings broad organizational capacity, deep technical resources, extensive public policy expertise, and a broad national perspective to this issue. As the owner of the Philip Johnson Glass House and Mies van der Rohe’s Farnsworth House, the National Trust for Historic Preservation already serves as a major curator of Modern masterpieces. As a part of the Initiative, Philip Johnson Glass House, under executive director Christy MacLear, will act as a center for modernism providing leadership for the preservation of modernist architecture and landscapes. The National Trust for Historic Preservation has also issued numerous publications focused on the study and preservation of the recent past and frequently covers the subject in the print and online versions of Preservation Magazine.

The Initiative’s goals include:

• Engage national and local partner organizations to build consensus and create a shared policy agenda for modernist and recent past resources; establish a strong national network to strengthen partners’ work.
• Provide high-quality educational programming, technical resources, and research for local organizations working to save, maintain, and reuse modernist and recent past resources.
• Advance policies that support Twentieth-Century architectural and cultural heritage in collaboration with national, regional, and local partners; integrate efforts with the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Sustainability Initiative to ensure that older and historic structures, including modernist and recent past resources, positively contribute to sustainable development plans at all levels of government.
• Engage individuals and targeted audiences across the country in modernism and recent past issues.
• Create and implement a comprehensive communications strategy that raises public awareness and galvanizes support for M+RP.

About Christine Madrid French:

Trained as an architectural historian at the University of Utah and the University of Virginia, French is a co-founder and past president of the Recent Past Preservation Network, the first national non-profit organization dedicated to saving resources built during the last fifty years. French is a member of the 20^th Century Heritage Scientific Committee for the International Council of Monuments and Sites, and previously worked as an historian with the National Park Service in Washington, D.C.  She has contributed to numerous architectural books and magazines and consulted on modern visitor centers for Ken Burns’ upcoming documentary about the National Park system.

The Henry Luce Foundation (http://www.hluce.org/) was established in 1936 by Henry R. Luce, the co-founder and editor-in-chief of Time Inc., to honor his parents who were missionary educators in China. The Foundation builds upon the vision and values of four generations of the Luce family: broadening knowledge and encouraging the highest standards of service and leadership; and, operating as a not-for-profit corporation under the laws of the State of New York, aims to exemplify the best practices of responsible, effective philanthropy. The Henry Luce Foundation seeks to bring important ideas to the center of American life, strengthen international understanding, and foster innovation and leadership in academic, policy, religious and art communities.

And I’m going to contact them to find out what I can do and we as a Dallas Community of Modern Home appreciation can do to support this effort. I like that this is where preservation meets modernism and we do something that helps educate and extend appreciation around homes that need it.

I saw this link from a friend of mine Dennis Convington. I don’t think he has a blog or I would link to him and give him some search juice but for now. LOOK AT THIS CHAIR.

This is from the site.

Designed by Isamu Kenmochi for Tendo Japan in 1961. The Kashiwado chair was actually created for a famous Sumo wrestler named Kashiwado from that time. This chair is truly a work of art. Craftsmen first cut out several blocks of the bottom roots of a Japanese cedar (Sugi) and then carefully select the best wood with the most tree-rings. The blocks are then carved and layered on top of each other by hand then polished and coated.

If you are a chair aficionado- check these links out.
Chair Blog
And the
Contemporary Australasion Chairs – Awesome chairs.

Enjoy.

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In going to the site, I found another interesting article about what I would classify as a Modern Home.

AIA Home Tour, Hawkins Home

First off, mark your calendars if you are in the Dallas / Fort Worth area for November 8, 9th.  AIA Dallas Tour of Homes is Nov. 8 and 9, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets for all nine houses are $25; tickets for individual houses are $10 each. To buy tickets, call 214-742-3242 or contact Ania Deptuch at adeptuch@aiadallas.org. For more information see www.hometourdallas.com.

I just went to the site and Diane Cheatham’s Urban Reserve has TWO homes on the tour.  One is her own home (which is for sale and is gorgeous) and another that I have seen and admire but haven’t gotten inside yet.  How exciting!

Now on to the article.  It’s basically talking about the history of Modern Homes in Dallas and what is in store for the tour participants.  Very interesting.  Here is the link to the article.

The next article has some fantastic photography of what I would call a Modern Home.  Though it strikes me as something I would term Mid-Century.  Which is OK by me.  Apparently a couple by the name of Jennifer and John Eagle, restored a house that was designed in the mid-1950s by world-renowned architect Edward Durrell Stone.  They did such a bang-up job on their Preston Hollow home, that the National Trust for Historic Preservation recognized their house/work.

There are some pretty fantastic shots of the unique features of the house.  The pool that is both inside and out, the hand-carved mahogany screen and a white terrazzo screen on the front of the house to name a few. I’m not sure if the giant naked guy/baby sculpture out front is part of the restoration or a new addition but it’s interesting as well.  Not to my taste, but hey, it adds to the flavor.  The DMN article is an interesting read, and I encourage you to check it out.

I plan to attend the AIA Home Tour and plan to get photos.  All this photography, I’m going to have to upgrade my camera so my loyal readers don’t suffer.

Now I’m off to bed.  Enjoy the photos.